3D freehand canvas

Abstract

This paper presents a 3D freehand sketching system. Replacing the traditional 3D cartoon process, which contains modeling, texture mapping, it uses 2D input for generating projective strokes on a user-definable 3D canvas, which makes it possible that artist can sketch freehand in 3D space with no limitation. The freehand style animation could be created, which is nearly impossible for modern 3D animation tools. Most of the 2D painting features are also supported such as varieties of colors and abundant user-defined alpha stroke, and all of these features could be used in 3D space as well. Moreover, the 3D animation features could also be used, including space view, perspective view and freely 3D movement both for the object and the camera. It is a brand new tool both for traditional 2D cartoon makers and modern 3D animation craftsmen. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.